by T. A. Martin
With some pain, she crawled back to her friends to see if she could rouse them.
“Bill!”
She took his arm gently out of the embrace.
“Oh, I ache all over. Where are we?”
“We crashed. We seem to be OK.”
Betsy began to move. “Oooh! My tailbone.”
Danielle released their seatbelt carefully. They both moved on their own. Gingerly at first, but then purposefully to get out of what remained of the aircraft.
"Bill, Betsy, I need to leave you for a few minutes to see if I can do anything for the rest of the people up the mountain. Will you be alright for a while?"
“Yes, we will be OK. You must see what you can do. I would come if I could, but I need to stay with Betsy.”
Danielle got into her backpack and pulled out two packets of gold colored emergency ponchos and gave them to the pair to keep them warm.
“Understood, I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
Danielle left them hurrying up the mountain as fast as she could.
~~~
The long Alaskan days this time of year allowed enough light for Danielle to do what she needed to do. None of the other passengers had survived; she checked all because that was what she had to do. The sight was tragic and horrific. Except for the fact that the three people from the tour are still in their seats, she could not have recognized them. They had been in the part of the aircraft where the fuel had spilled out and caught fire. The scene was the worst thing that she had experienced. With nothing more that she could do, she turned to hurry back down the mountain to Bill and Betsy. It was very strange looking back down the mountain. She could see that the plane had hit the ground tail first directly on a sharp outcrop that ripped the tail section off like a knife. The rest of the aircraft then apparently cart wheeled up the mountain for maybe a thousand yards leaving divots in the ground like a dotted line to the final resting place where it caught fire. Without the adrenaline rushing through her on the way up, Danielle was in pain as she worked her way down the slope. She could see the couple ahead close to one another under shining gold ponchos, now the only other live people for many miles.
“Did anyone make it,” Bill called.
Danielle shook her head. She could see Betsy bury her head in her arms. She finally got up to them.
“No they all perished.”
“Is there anything I can do?” Asked Bill.
“No, we really should not disturb the crash scene any more than what I had to do to check for survivors.”
Bill looked dejected and sorrowful about this tragedy. Without anything to be done to occupy the mind, there was not much to relieve the pain. Now Danielle was in a situation that she had never been in before. Danielle had trained to be a rescuer, but to be rescued, she had never experienced that. What do I do now came to mind. She had been on many rescues but not as the lead rescuer. She knew how to do what she was directed to do, but was not used to "calling the shots." But, calling the shots is what she must do now to get she and these two sixty-something friends off this mountain.
Danielle took her backpack off and reached in for the satellite phone to do what she knew needed to be done first after stabilizing the situation. The emergency number was in its memory, so soon the connection was made.
“This is Danielle Eagleton, Alaskans on Call, CRR# AK5267,” She said.
She waited for the OK to go on then she said. "We have just crashed in a Piper Navajo tail number Lima Delta 2786, eight souls on board, three survivors at this satellite phone coordinates."
Danielle closed out the call then turn to Bill and Betsy.
"They know where we are now, and I will keep the satellite phone on Transpond so that they will know where we are if we need to move."
The Survivors Trek
Now, what! Once said, it was now about 10 o'clock pm, and the sun had just set meaning they had less than an hour before it was completely dark.
“It is going to be dark soon, so I think we need to get a fire going and try to get some sleep if we can,” Said Danielle.
“I think you are right. We are tired already and sore,” Said Bill, “By the way, where did you get a satellite phone?”
“Its the clubs, since I’m a member I have a phone with me, just in case.”
“Fortunate for us, I’d say,” Said Betsy.
“The backpack is with me all the time. Here, I have a large emergency tarp here in my S&R kit so that we can rig up a lean-to, then I will start to find some wood to burn.”
Danielle stood up and looked out to the west toward the Alyeska pipeline to see if she could see any destination. Just on the other side of the valley below them, she saw what appeared to be a pump station. She pulled out a small pair of binoculars from her backpack. Oh yes, and a thin strip… a runway!
“Bill, Betsy, I see where we will need to head out tomorrow. It looks like a Pump Station on the pipeline has an airstrip.”
“How far is it?” Asked Bill.
"I guess ten miles, with about seven in the valley, so we are going to have about three miles of this mountain terrain before us."
“I don’t think I can walk,” Betsy said.
“Hopefully, I can find something to support you enough to walk. We will go slowly, but we need to get to a lower elevation where we can find something to eat. I hope they can send a rescue helicopter soon.”
“I can help find wood for the fire,” Bill said.
“There isn’t much around here, but we need a fire to ward off animals.”
“Be careful Bill,” Said Betsy.
“I will.”
After Danielle and Bill had disappeared behind the outcrop, Betsy looked toward the tail of the airplane and could see the large box still strapped into the seat. Curiosity overcame the pain in her leg, and she crawled on her hands and knees to the wreckage. The upside down label on the box read Fairbanks Medical Supply. The printed cocktail glass symbol was symbolically dumping its beverage. Wouldn’t you know it thought Betsy? She pulled herself up onto the floor next to the seat and unbuckled the package. She rolled the box off the seat, and it tumbled to the ground in front of the tail section. Betsy saw that it had turned into an upright position and that there was a list of contents on the top. She carefully crawled to the box and kneeled to read the list. The light was now very dim, but Betsy could read the contents. She notices one line in particular: a foldable crutch. Thank you Lord, Betsy thought.
“Betsy.”
It was Bill.
“Where are you?”
“Over here next to the plane. Look what I found.”
Danielle walked up from the other direction with branches in her hands.
"Betsy looked at the package, and it lists a crutch as contents," Said Bill.
“That is good news,” Said Danielle.
“I’ll help get the fire going then we can rest.” Said Bill. He arranged the brush he had and Danielle added what she had found.
They built a fire in front of the outcrop to provide some protection and took the cushions from the airplane seats to use as pillows. They laid down next to each other and pulled the emergency ponchos over them. With the fire crackling, fatigue finally set in and they fell asleep.
~~~
The sun was pretty high in the sky when it hit them in the eyes, waking them. The only thing she had for the Bigelows to eat were the MRE's in her backpack, she gave one to each of them and took one for herself. She took one of the branches they had gathered and made sure the fire was scattered and out. Betsy had made her way over to the box and had cut it open with a sharp piece of aluminum aircraft skin she had worked off. Soon she was unfolding a pair of quite serviceable crutches. She pulled herself to her feet and put the crutches under her arms and swung stepped back over to outcrop.
"I'm ready to go!" She said.
"Be careful Betsy."
"Bill is right; we will need to pick our way along not to get any more injuries."
"Quit ganging up on m
e you two."
Danielle smiled, this is a strong woman, she thought with no little admiration.
"I believe we can make a couple of miles today if we are careful and pick as easy a way as we can."
"Why again are we not staying right here to be rescued,” Asked Bill.
"We need to get to the better shelter of trees and edible vegetation and flowing streams. We are unprotected here. Also, the rescue team will be able to find us wherever with the satellite phone, so we might as well move toward the pump station."
"I'm game,” Said Betsy.
"OK, OK who's ganging up on who now."
"Let's roll."
Bill gave Betsy a surprised look.
The first part of the hike was rocky, and the trio had to be very careful how they picked their steps. One good thing there was not much wind, only a slight breeze. Nothing to make them feel cold. Betsy, of course, needed to slow down when the surface was not level. Bill stayed just in front of her so that if she did fall he could catch her. Danielle was further ahead picking the best route. It took a good hour to get down the first quarter mile or so. The terrain was beginning to support brush and a few small trees, and Danielle could see for some distance to the west. It was the direction they needed to go, so she decided to lead them through the opening in the trees at the same elevation. They would continue until the path turned away from the direction they wanted to go.
“Phew, I’m glad we’re not going down so quickly now. That was wearing me out,” Said Betsy.
"We probably should rest a while; I need to remember…"
“That you’re much younger than we are,” Said Bill.
"No, No, I was just saying that I need to remember Betsy is using crutches," Danielle said flashing them a big smile.
They found a fallen tree trunk and sat down. They were looking out through the trees in front of them at the valley below. The scene was beautiful as so much of Alaska is and it for a moment took over dwelling on the tragic circumstances they had just come through. The breeze sounded gently in the trees. The rustle of leaves on the ground. The snap of a branch. Another.
"Shh... somethings behind us," Said Danielle in a hushed voice.
At that moment, Danielle knew the crying sound coming from the south of them was that of a bear, a bear cub to be exact.
Suddenly from below them, they saw her charging up the mountain and rising on her hind legs. Now the unmistakable roar of a momma grizzly.
“Oh my God!” Betsy grabbed her crutches.
"Stop," Said Danielle. "We just need to move from being between her and her cubs but don't run just move deliberately."
The three walked along the path away from the bears. Betsy was moving as quickly as she could, but momma bear was not satisfied that it was fast enough, so the grizzly charged. Danielle came back to help if she could and was making an effort to get between the bear and Betsy when the bear got to Betsy. With a swipe of momma's giant claw, one crutch flew forward along the path. Betsy teetered then started to fall with only one crutch to hold her up. Danielle got to her and caught her by the armpits and immediately backpedaled to pull her away from the charging grizzly. Now Danielle saw the trail of blood coming from Betsy's leg. The bear had not only hooked the crutch but had also nicked the leg.
In a loud voice, Danielle shouted. "Halt!" It startled even her.
The bear strangely cocked her head, lowered herself to all fours a rambled away toward the sounds of her cubs.
“Betsy, are you OK,” Said Bill as he ran up. His eyes were as big as saucers.
“No, I am not OK,” She said.
Danielle got into her backpack and pulled out a medical kit. The gash on Betsy's leg was deep enough that she would need stitches or staples, but that was not in the kit. The butterfly bandages would have to do. Skillfully, Danielle cleaned and closed the wound then wrapped and taped it. She had some painkillers in the kit and gave them to Betsy. Betsy took the pills with the bottled water they had with them.
"I don't think that the bear will bother us again. We had just gotten between her and her cubs, and she wouldn't let that happen again since she knows we're around. In fact, we are fortunate that we ran into a female with cubs and not a lone female grizzly or worse a male grizzly. We would be dead."
“This is not what I wanted to come to Alaska for,” Said Bill.
“Bill, this is not what I wanted either, but I sure have a lot to write about.”
It was noticeable that the painkiller was working. Bill could have used a Valium, but no such luck.
~~~
The three had not heard such a beautiful sound in a very long time. Thwok, thwok, thwok…, the sound of helicopter blades beating the air. The sound was off in the distance, but at the rate the sound was getting louder ,it wouldn't be long before they would be heading for home.
Soon they not only heard but saw chopper headed directly for their location. The satellite phone came on.
"We see the phone's location on our scope but do not see you, what is your status?"
"We are doing well. The older female has a possible cracked hip but can move with crutches. The male has bruises, but is mobile. I am bruised and sore but otherwise OK. We will try to make it to a clearing," Said Danielle.
"We see a clearing; it is tight but doable. Maintain your position; we will find you when we're on the ground."
"Roger that."
Soon the copter was directly above through the trees then moved sideways for about a hundred yards. The three could hear the machine hovering getting ready to land.
"Hooray!" Said Betsy.
"Let's let them come to get us so we can have help," Said Danielle.
There was an awful sound suddenly from the direction of the helicopter; then a long thin projectile slashed through the woods over their heads. It hit a tree trunk several yards behind them putting a large gash on the tree, then fell to the ground. They looked to see what now was obviously a piece of the copter's rotor laying on a the base of the tree.
"Stay here," Yelled Danielle.
She took off in as fast a run as she could toward the now crashed helicopter. No records for a hundred yard dash today, but she got to the downed vehicle in a little over a minute. The copter fuselage had not broken up, but the tail rotor and the main rotor were gone. The pilot sat dazed in his seat. The rescue team was outside laying on the ground. The chief was hanging by his safety strap attached to his belt. He was dazed. His right arm hung down with a severe bend in it. Probably broken or dislocated. When Danielle got to him, she realized that he was Jake Jameson. Jake had been her lead on several rescue missions by Alaskans on Call.
"Jake, can you hear me?"
"What happened?"
"Not sure, but it looks like you caught a tree with the main rotor then augured in. Most of the team look like they have been knocked out, but I don't see any visible injuries other than that."
"Is that you Danielle?"
"Yes, it's me."
"I wasn't given a name just a location for you. Ohh, the arm hurts like hell."
"I will try to get you down. Let me get under you left arm so you can hold on while I release your safety strap."
"OK."
"There, put your left arm around my neck, I going to hold on to your left arm with my right and release the strap with my left. I'll go on three."
"Understood."
"One, Two, Three."
Danielle braced hard as his weight shifted to her.
"Aah." Jake groaned as his arm moved with the maneuver. Then Danielle's strength allowed Jake get to his feet.
"Knew you were strong, but not that strong. So glad you were here."
"Probably a little adrenalin Chief."
"We came to rescue you and your friends, but it looks like your going to have to rescue us all," Said Jake.
"That's no fair."
She smiled when she said it, but he had been her crew chief on several occasions, now the responsibility was falling on her.
&nbs
p; "Danielle, I know you can do it."
With that, Jake Jameson passed out. She let him down as slowly as she could. Danielle checked his pulse and respiration and realized he had probably passed out from the pain. Now she needed to check thoroughly on the others then she needed to get Bill and Betsy and the satellite phone here as soon as she could. Everyone else seemed to have only minor scrapes and contusions. The pilot had come to and was OK.
"I need to get my two friends then we"ll be back as soon as possible."
"I'll be alright," the pilot said. He climbed down from the destroyed machine and sat down against a tree.
She began to jog as fast as she could and soon she could see the pair sitting on a rock. They waved when they saw her coming closer through the woods.
"The rescue crew seems to have only minor injuries except my old Chief."
"So now there are…"
"Eight of us needing rescue," Said Danielle.
"That is not good news," Said Betsy.
Danielle picked up the satellite phone and change it to talk.
“This is Danielle Eagleton, Alaskans on Call, CRR# AK5267,” She said.
"What is the situation Danielle, we lost contact with Rescue One about a half an hour ago."
"Apparently, a wind gust pushed them into trees around the clearing they were trying to land in and the vehicle lost its rotors and hit hard. Chief Jameson sustained a severely injured arm, but everyone else seems to have gotten through with only minor injuries. There are now eight souls that need your help," Said Danielle.
